US Enterprise’s PDH unit to produce first propylene this month

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Enterprise Products’ long-delayed propane dehydrogenation (PDH) facility at the Mont Belvieu natural gas liquids (NGL) hub near Houston is expected to produce its first polymer grade propylene this month, the CEO of the US midstream energy and petrochemicals company said on Thursday.

Jim Teague said that Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall over eastern Texas on 25 August knocking out petrochemical plants and hitting the wider North American chemical industry, delayed the commissioning schedule of the PDH unit by an additional four weeks.

“We are now in the final stages of commissioning and expect initial production of polymer grade propylene later this month,” he added.

Teague also said that Enterprise recently completed construction of the pipeline portion of its Midland-to Sealy crude oil pipeline in Texas.

Enterprise is now beginning commissioning activities and expects the pipeline to be in limited service later this month.

Meanwhile, construction continues on supporting pump stations and storage facilities in Midland and Sealy, the CEO said.

The Midland-to-Sealy pipeline is expected to be in full service, including batching capabilities, during the second quarter of 2018, he added.